Your Marlin is a fine gun as it comes from the factory, but I prefer the Browning 1886.
Either one can be loaded to a level that is at best uncomfortable, but the Browning model is a very well built gun and shows good workmanship throughout. Had the carbine version and was a great gun, but little light for the loads I use and the rifle version w/ 26" octagon barrel and 9 rnds has some heft to it and very accurate. Browning's version has not been made since '86 and Winchester is now offering the gun under their name, but has a tang safety, modified trigger as well and from the ones I have handled aren't as smooth or well finished as the older Brownings. Turnbull uses the Browning guns to do his "magic" on them as well as the new Winchesters, but he removes the tang safety/trigger set up and restores them to the original Winchester/Browning set up, half safety, good trigger. Pricing of the Brownings range from 800-1200.00 for the std. grade and twice that for the deluxe model. The deluxe is a beautiful rifle, but not practical for hunting, at least to me. I am a fan of the 45/70 Gov't and have a custom Ruger No. 3 in that caliber as well. You can hunt anything in North America with the round with confidence.
